Jasimo’s Blog

More money, more problems. Why is it that we’re spending all of our daily allowances over stuff you really don’t need in life? Because it’s all about instant gratification in a FOMO kind of way.

A while back, I wrote a post simply called “Inflated” as a way to view the real picture about what’s behind all the sticker shock going on. Perhaps it’s time for me to write a follow-up on the subject of finance and economic wellbeing.

I fall into the money burning trap myself, and I’m sure billions of us do. Whenever that special ‘something’ grabs my attention, whether it’s a 14-day free trial to a streaming service or jonesing over a Whatchamacallit candy bar, I use whatever financial resources are available to inject high amounts of satisfaction into my brain. It works just like dope, and it’s addictive. We crave instant gratification this way and it’s downright easy peasy.

But along comes a laundry list of terrible side effects: buyer’s remorse, dwindling bank accounts, and the possibility of going bankrupt. Things are VERY bad in this current economic environment with inflated prices all across the board — thank you, tariffs! And don’t get me started on buying a five-pack of chicken breasts that are heading north towards twenty dollars — no, I’m not kidding! Denial over this situation of crisis-level proportions is definitely not an option.

It’s more than just common cents. It’s having a lot of uncommon sense, and you need the right amount of common sense. So here’s five nonessential goods and services I’ve jotted down on this post that can help explain why Americans are needlessly wasting money over needless things — read: “discretionary items”. I’ve also thrown in some embedded video clips that are worth reflecting (** subject to being deleted **). Let this serve as a guide to help you guard your money wisely and make better informed decisions on how to navigate your financial future…

1. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

I can tell you firsthand that I went through a number of video streaming services in recent months just to seamlessly assemble the perfect lineup for my imaginary “Jasimo TV Network”. Now I know why it isn’t seamless, much less appropriate to the matter. The biggest strike going against them is my existing library of physical media content — read: CD, DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD. That means anything I watch other than Premium YouTube is in direct conflict with my movie, music and TV show collection that I have full control over. Streaming services are just like that: movies, music and TV shows. Conversely, they give you no control because all those interfaces being thrown at your face are sending you recommendations of content you wouldn’t care for, signaling you to binge watch yourself to total oblivion. The fact that your favorite selections can disappear at any moment’s notice make for a miserable experience.

I subscribed to Paramount Plus and the only thing I would be watching is content from CBS including The Price Is Right about half the time. Then perhaps getting a TV tuner would be a smart option because you’re getting this programming for free. It would be downright dumb to get a packaged bundle of linear TV channels if you don’t have a decent paying job. You won’t have the time to watch every NFL season game or the old Ted Turner cable networks anyway.

The list of subscription services, mainly in entertainment and audiobooks, keep on growing unabated and the quality they provide doesn’t impress much. They’re luring every one of us into the illusion of saving money that provides us with the convenience of access to a hidden vault. In reality, they’re just more empty expenses per month. 

Yes, I spent my dollars worth in a physical media collection built over a few years. Piling up streaming services right on top of it doesn’t really make sense.

2. GYM MEMBERSHIPS

Sure, I get it. There are some people out here who like to do bodybuilding as a full-time hobby and that is perfectly fine. It’s also mandatory for UFC fighters and their careers. But a healthy life doesn’t have to mean signing up for a membership to the local YMCA. Most people who do this want to lose weight as the number one reason. When I was a teenager, I wanted to do just that, but being too young meant it was easy to jump off the wagon. The problem is when we don’t think outside the box and don’t do things the hard way.

Why blow hundreds of bucks every month to a personal trainer who might be inexperienced? Worst of all, what would happen if you pulled a muscle over a dumbbell or even get seriously injured in a freak accident with a Soloflex? And, of course, you probably will have to buy lots of spandex and Lululemons per dress code.

I planned my destiny since 2014 and it’s paid off. I didn’t need the gym at all, just following good common sense like eating fruits and vegetables at every ‘eat break’ and doing simple activities like walking and pushing lawn mowers. These things can do wonders for your health. But a gym membership is nothing but a gyp membership, and not really essential.

3. SWIMMING POOLS

Seriously, do you really need one? I know the temperatures and humiliating humidity during hot summer days and nights can be overly distressing, and a swimming pool is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But the downsides outweigh the benefits, and that involves constantly spending money on maintaining the health of your pool and to keep it running properly. Most people probably can’t do this because of time and other constraints, but responsibility is crucial.

Swimming pools and spas are luxury items, so they’re optional. First, you’ll have to come up with enough funds to purchase some sand and hire an installation crew. Later, you’ll have to spend extra on pool coverings, pumps, and plenty of HTH while keeping it clean throughout its lifespan. I’ve seen residences install their above-ground pools only to pack it up after three years of use. Underground pools which are prone to surface cracks are costly to repair, and turns into deep regret if there’s extensive damage to the point it becomes unusable enough to cause a serious health hazard. Extra piping and industrial grade maintenance are mandatory. It CAN be that easy to give up on material possessions that’s supposed to make you feel good.

Drinking some ice cold water over exposure to chlorine and communicable diseases is way better for you in this regard. If you really want to take a dip, just get yourself a kid size pool with low maintenance and it’ll still hold your cool. Also better: the risk of drowning is extremely low.

4. JUNK FOOD

Everything adds up incrementally at first, whether you’re throwing in jumbo Doritos in the shopping cart or buying Slim Jims at the local Wawa. Trouble is, the more you buy the higher the numbers including your cholesterol level. You’re still hungry after all this gorging on blood sugar spiking treats so you tread on over to Burger King for a big fat juicy Whopper that tastes nowhere as good as forty years ago. Down the road, you might get very sick and require medical attention, which translates to big medical bills. If you’re doing this every single day, just cut it way down. That includes Hershey bars, once my second favorite candy product behind number-one ranked Reese’s cups. It’s not all about cutting calories but for preserving your financial and physical wellbeing in the long run.

This is a no-brainer. If only we learned how to eat properly, we wouldn’t have an obesity epidemic that’s worth $1.5 trillion each year. All that wasteful spending could have gone to solving society’s problems including homelessness, crumbling highways and national defense. The best thing local governments can do is build walking paths along major roads. Imagine all the self-inflicting damage being blamed over a Moon Pie.

5. DISNEY VACATIONS

For once, I thought the 1992 song “Dizz Knee Land” by the alternative band Dada was a direct assault on life in the Magic Kingdom. It wasn’t really that way lyrically nor was it referencing Disney, but let’s just put it in modern day context and proclaim that the song is more relevant than ever before. Because going to Disneyland or similar in the 2020s might blow your life savings away in one fell swoop. Or worse!

So what’s the damage? Well, a recent estimate for one baseline vacation to Disney World costs over $7,000 for a family of four. That’s far out of reach for many of us. Add more nightly stays to hotels and you could be inching towards $15,000 and higher, including a consultation with a travel agent! What’s really bad is that these figures are for 2025 and will definitely be on the upswing for 2026 and beyond. I hope there’s a doctor or lawyer in the house, because the House Of Mouse is a mighty expensive place to go. Been there, done that, even for a single day… is it really worth it to me, an ‘old’ man who hasn’t been to a theme park in 31 years?

They say that Disney parks are “magical dreams come true” with all the iconic characters and images of spectacle and wonderment. It’s a big fat money grab that ties in with all the Disney movies and merch available to the masses yearning for a source of comfort. I would imagine the parking fees and all the food are astronomically high enough for a Jedi sword poking through my burning wallet. And that doesn’t include a multitude of bad things that might happen to your magical visit to the kingdom ranging from inclement weather to sheer misfortune and misadventure. There have been tons of news stories like this. I’ve watched brutal fight videos at Disney parks before… not very pleasant at all, and not the stuff of forever moments you’d want to catch at Disney. If that happens again, I would never return.

You could do a DIY Disney staycation instead. It’s cheaper, but Disney doesn’t have to be a part of your life. Going local is a safe bet. I have four Mexican restaurants within five miles from my doorstep… authentic cuisines complete with TV, cocktail bars, possibly a lovely señorita or two, and walkable access to Publix is good enough — even more lucky if you’re a resident of Florida, BTW. Oh wait a minute, this stuff’s already getting expensive! I could do this about three times a year, and it’s still money-saving compared to a day at Disney.

Sure, there’s plenty more needless things we could all blow our dollars and cents into, but the five I have listed above are my personal prime examples. Decision making is one thing, but ‘impulse buying” would be the driver of all things because we really are caught up in the game of consumerism that never ends.

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